Arnold Clark’s efforts to shake up car retailing

Motoring giants Arnold Clark have a range of initiatives that aim to take the automotive industry away from stereotypical perceptions to make it more inclusive and progressive, and improve the work/life balance.

THE world of car sales is often written off as male-dominated by prospective employees but one company who are determined to put this perception in the rear view mirror for good are Arnold Clark.

Over the years, Arnold Clark have been finding new ways to demonstrate their commitment to gender inclusivity, diversity and supporting young people into the industry through training and apprenticeships.

In recent months, this has seen some industry-leading shifts for the group and their 12,000 members of staff.

In November 2017, the business introduced a five-day working week for sales employees. The pioneering move has afforded existing staff a better work-life balance.

It also makes a career in car sales a viable alternative for new recruits from a wide range of sectors.

More recently, the introduction of flexible working has proved to be a big hit with workshop, parts and servicing staff.

Now, Arnold Clark are taking steps to further modernise the role of sales staff, with the introduction of product consultants.

The new title and specially designed uniform have already been trialled in a number of branches and are now being rolled out across the company.

Applications for the product consultant position are welcomed from all employment backgrounds, and previous sales experience is not essential.

The focus is on customer experience, so candidates are encouraged to get in touch from a variety of sectors, including hospitality, retail and finance.

It’s not all about what’s happening on the showroom floor, either.

There are more than 400 unique roles in the business, including branding experts, digital product developers, an events team, insurance specialists and security personnel - meaning a world of opportunity for those on the search for a lasting career.

The Group have their own purpose-built training centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Wolverhampton to support employees with training and progression in their roles.

The company are proud to work closely with a number of initiatives designed to support and inspire diversity in the industry and beyond.

Arnold Clark work with Womanthology, a thought leadership community for working women, Dare to be Different, an initiative that inspires the next generation of women in motorsport, as well as Pride UK and Stonewall.

Speaking of the many exciting changes taking place in the business, Group Head of People Lynne McBurney said: “With more than 12,000 employees, it’s our top priority to make sure we’re constantly innovating the way we recruit, challenging what we’ve done before and finding new ways to empower our people.

“We’re thrilled with the positive stories and feedback received from existing staff about the changes so far.

“I’d encourage anyone who’s interested in more than just a day job to consider a career with Arnold Clark. It’s an exciting time for the business, and anyone choosing to join us.”